A Look Ahead: Porsche’s Plans For the Foreseeable Future

With Volkswagen buying out the rest of Porsche, there are definitely some changes afoot, but for the most part, the changes are going to be the same as we have known since before the buyout, err, “corporate restructuring.” The production line, fortunately, will not change under the new ownership, and we felt it was time to outline what Porsche has in store for us in the coming years.

The Pajun has been one of the most on-and-off models recently, as was the baby Boxster. The baby Boxster is all but eliminated from consideration, but the Pajun looks to be a distant possibility. Also in design and testing phase are the 918 Spyder and Macan models.

In planning we have “Project 960,” which is Porsche’s potential answer to Ferrari. This is far and away the most intriguing of the group, as it’s something that Porsche has lacked since its inception.

While many Porsche enthusiasts may complain about their beloved automaker expanding its lineup, it is clear that this expansion is to allow the super-exclusive automaker to hit its goal of 200,000 new vehicle sales by 2018. That is a rather lofty goal, but with controlled lineup expansion and no reduction in quality, this is attainable.

Click past the jump to read a more detailed summary on all of Porsche’s upcoming plans.

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Porsche 918 Spyder

The Porsche 918 Spyder is anticipated to hit the market in late-2013, likely in September. It’s due to boast a hybrid-style drivetrain that will feature a 4.6-liter V-8 engine and a pair of electric motors. This combination is expected to get this two seater a total of 770 horsepower and get a whopping 78.4 mpg. The hybrid system will be plug-in-style, and from what we know, will not have any regeneration, so you will have to deal with battery discharge over time. If this does occur, however, the 918 will still be a very fast car, as its gasoline engine still pumps out 570 ponies. When at peak power, the Porsche 918 will hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds.

The anticipated pricing for super-hybrid is just about $845,000, so it’ll put quite a dent in your wallet.

Porsche Macan

Next in line for Porsche is the Macan, which was once known as the “Cajun.” This compact SUV is anticipated to hit the market some time in 2014. This smaller version of the Cayenne is based on the Audi Q5’s platform and will likely feature several Audi engines, though the exact engine lineup is unknown. One engine that is a near certainty, though still unknown, is a 210-horsepower, 2.0-liter TFSI engine matched up with a 44-horsepower electric motor.

The Macan will start off as a 4-door model, but we expect top see a 2-door sport model released shortly after its initial release. Pricing is also an unknown at this point.

Project 551

This is the famed on-and-off project by Porsche, which many have nicknamed the “Baby Boxster” and "Pajun." Initially this compact, entry-level roadster was thought to be a sure thing with an anticipated release date in 2014. However, Porsche CEO, Matthias Mueller, stated that “It may take another generation of customers before a small roadster fits in with Porsche,” which we find a little odd, given the addition of SUVs and 4-door models. With VW taking over Porsche’s automotive operations, the tune may change and Project 551 may actually be restarted.

Porsche 961

Project 960, or more commonly known as the 961, is a very intriguing prospect, but it is also very much a mystery as to whether it will ever hit production or not. This model is a mid-engine two-seat car that Porsche expects to pit against Ferrari. There are rumors afloat that the 961 will be based on the next-gen Audi R8 platform and boast a twin-turbocharged H-6 engine punching out 600 ponies and 550 pounds of face twisting torque.

The rest of the details are completely unknown at this point, as with the potential release date. We are hearing whispers that the anticipated pricing is near the €200,000 ($270,000), which places it just below the 918 Spyder.